Jackson Products settles five gender discrimination cases

PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP -- A local personal and highway safety equipment manufacturer has agreed to pay more than $170,000 and provide up to five jobs to resolve allegations it discriminated against 16 female job applicants.

The female applicants applied for flow mold positions at the company throughout a two-year period. In an annual compliance check of the Belmont facility, the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs determined those women were discriminated against, said Brad Mitchell, public affairs officer.

Under the settlement, Jackson Products must pay $171,412.26, to be divided among the applicants and to provide up to five jobs with benefits to the applicants as positions become available.

None of the women complained to the department about the apparent discrimination, Mitchell said.

"Oftentimes, if you're denied from a job, you don't know that it may have been because of your gender, race or ethnicity," he said.

"It would be difficult to complain if you don't know that is the issue."

The department noted although Jackson Products has agreed to pay, it has not admitted its liability.

A call to Jackson Products' facility was directed to its corporate headquarters in Fulton, Mo. Calls placed there were not returned Monday.

Mitchell said he did not know of any previous discrimination cases involving Jackson Products.